Laced with Love and Lore

The island of Burano serves as a great source of inspiration for fashion designers and students the world over for its tradition of handmade lace. Brinda Gill documents.

- Brinda Gill

“It is the city of mirrors, the city of mirages, at once solid and liquid, at once air and stone,” wrote novelist Erica Jong of the wondrous island-city of Venice in northern Italy. Venice instantly casts a spell on the visitor with the expansive St Mark’s Square fronting the multi-domed St Mark’s Basilica surfaced with beautiful gilded mosaics and the soaring bell tower; its many paths winding past stores, heritage homes, and churches; charming squares and bridges; and gondolas ferrying visitors through canals. As charming as the city is, the islands close to Venice also offer interesting glimpses of heritage, one such being Burano.

Burano has inspired artistes and designers for years. Taking a boat from Venice (or a nearby island such as Lido, where one may be staying) takes one to Burano in less than half an hour. This island is instantly identified due to the colourful homes of fishermen, and soon it is apparent that each one is painted with a distinct colour! The reason for this is that in times past, fishermen could demarcate individual property by this method and when they returned from the sea and the fog hung heavy, each would be able to identify his home by its colour.

LACEMAKING TRADITION

If this strikes you as charming, there is yet another delightful legend. It is said that a fisherman who was engaged to a young woman from the island was out at sea, when a beautiful siren sought to attract his attention. As he did not give into her charms, the siren queen was impressed by his faithfulness and swished her tail, sending up a foamy wave that magically transformed into a wedding veil. And when the fisherman took it back for his bride-to-be, it caught the attention of the women on the island, who recreated its delicacy and beauty using needle and thread.